Since I don't schedule vacation weeks or days (we sort of play it by ear), on paper we constantly look like we are a week or two behind. That's pretty discouraging. So my thinking was... for fall, instead of scheduling for "the week of __________" , I would try scheduling by week numbers. That way, I'll just have a stack of schedules we would work through one at a time. I'd also have my monthly 'list' (list of what I want to cover each month) but my thinking is that there would be less beating myself up if we are working on a schedule that doesn't reflect specific dates. Anyone tried this, or have any thoughts?
I think it would work better. Unless you need to know something specific for testing. I also number my lessons, instead of date them. But then I do a 4 day week with a "spill-over" day. (With Math being required all 5 days.) This seems to work better (for us) then planning all 5 days. And often the kids will do an "extra" lesson on spill-over day.
That's how my college professors do it. That way they don't have to update their syllabus with specific dates each semester (you always miss changing one then students barrage you with questions, all bent out of shape and confused). They just number weeks 1-15, and put corresponding folders on Blackboard (online classroom).
You'll never know unless you try it! If it doesn't work as you want, ditch it and try something else.
I have done it by days, day one, week one, instead o days and dates. IT really does help keep you calmer if you get behind cause you can count back wards, subtract days etc and know how many days let of school. Personally I love having a schedule that is flexible now that I get the hang of it. This year we got so far off in science and geography that when I told ds we had about 6 weeks left of school he stopped, looked sideways at me and said ; "Summer school?" with a half grin,lol. Got to love a kid who is okay with that!
I do week numbers instead of dates and it works for me. When I did my schedule by dates I was always stressed out if we got behind. Now I don't.
I do better that way as well. I have to rewrite them when I do dates and I get off. If we just do week #'s then it isn't a big deal. I do have a calendar where I put an estimate of where I think we should be at a certain time. Just so I can gauge if we need to hurry up or if we are on schedule.
I have mine laid out by week number. I do not even bother to set monthly goals just yearly. I do not want to get myself boxed in too much. I keep my schedule in a binder and every week I check off what we completed and make a plan for the next week. If I do not get to something (which has been the case with Art and Music lately) I just cross it off my weekly schedule and reschedule it for the following week.
